Coaches

John Dolezal began wrestling in Folkstyle and Freestyle at the age of five and became one of Minnesota’s top deaf wrestlers. He was a varsity starter from 8th grade through his senior year at Faribault High School and became the first deaf wrestler in school history to compete for the program.

John earned recognition as a five-time DeafDigest All-American, two-time DeafDigest Wrestler of the Year, team captain, and five-time Minnesota State Tournament participant. He finished his high school career with 140 wins, becoming one of Faribault High School’s all-time winning wrestlers.

In freestyle wrestling, John was a Minnesota/USA Freestyle State Champion and competed at the USA Wrestling Northern Plains Regional Championships. Internationally, he represented Team USA at the 1997 Deaflympics in Copenhagen, Denmark, placing 5th in Greco-Roman Wrestling.

As a coach, John served as an assistant coach at Eastview High School and spent 10 years as Head Coach of the ASL Eagles Wrestling Club. He later became Head Coach for Team USA Freestyle Wrestling at the 2021 Deaflympics, Head Coach for the Cadet, Junior, and Senior Greco-Roman and Freestyle World Championships in Kyrgyzstan in 2023, and Head Coach for Team USA Freestyle Wrestling at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Jennifer Ballew is the head wrestling coach at the North Carolina School for the Deaf, where she also coach multiple sports and proudly support NCSD athletics. She is incredibly excited to step into the role of USA Deaf Wrestling Women’s Head Coach and look forward to working with women wrestlers, helping them develop their skills, confidence, and love for the sport.

Mehdi Bakhshi is an accomplished international Deaf wrestler with a long record of success on the world stage. He has won multiple gold medals at the World Deaf Wrestling Championships (2008, 2021, 2023) and the Summer Deaflympics (2009, 2022), along with additional podium finishes that include silver medals at the Deaflympics (2013, 2017, 2025) and bronze medals at major international competitions.

Throughout his career, Bakhshi has consistently competed at the highest level, earning medals across events in countries such as Armenia, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, and Japan. His achievements also include success at the International Deaf Wrestling Championships and a medal performance at a World Championship event in Bulgaria. Known for his longevity and consistency, Bakhshi remains one of the most decorated Deaf wrestlers in international competition.

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill is a former UFC Light Heavyweight fighter, elite wrestler, and one of the most recognized deaf athletes in combat sports history. Born deaf in Loveland, Ohio, Matt developed a passion for wrestling at a young age and became one of the nation’s top amateur wrestlers.

Matt attended Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he built one of the greatest Division III wrestling careers in NCAA history. He was a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion, three-time All-American, and finished his collegiate career with an outstanding 111–3 record while never losing to a Division III opponent. Internationally, Matt earned Gold Medals in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling at the 1997 Summer Deaflympics and was a 2000 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling alternate.

Matt later gained worldwide recognition competing in the UFC and appearing on The Ultimate Fighter, facing elite fighters such as Jon Jones, Tito Ortiz, Michael Bisping, Rampage Jackson, Alexander Gustafsson, and Mark Munoz. Today, Matt continues to inspire athletes around the world through coaching, motivational speaking, and advocacy for the deaf community.

Joshua Marks began his wrestling journey in 4th grade, training in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle. Over the course of my competitive career, He became a multiple-time state placer and earned a Greco-Roman state championship title.

He serve as the Head Coach of University High School’s wrestling program, including its Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing team. In this role, He have developed athletes to achieve success at multiple levels, producing league champions, CIF and Masters qualifiers, as well as Willigan Deaf National placers and national champions.

In addition to coaching, He contributed internationally as an interpreter for USA Deaf Wrestling during the 2025 Olympic Team competitions in Fuchu, Japan.

Working alongside Head Coach John Dolezal, He is committed to building the U15 and U17 programs by developing strong foundational systems and technical proficiency aimed at long-term, international success.

Roger Stewart (“Peanut”) is a 2× U.S. Deaflympian and accomplished wrestler known for success at both national and international levels. He represented Team USA at the 2005 and 2021 Deaflympics, earning top-6 finishes against elite global competition. Domestically, he is a 3× U.S. National Champion, 4× All-American, and a multiple-time U.S. Deaflympic Team Trials champion in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman.

He currently serves as Assistant Head Coach at Shenandoah University, where he helps develop high-level athletes and foster a strong team culture. Stewart has also achieved long-term success as a veteran competitor, becoming a 5× Veteran World Team Champion and earning multiple Veteran World Team selections.

In addition to his competitive career, Stewart has made a strong impact as a coach and mentor. He was honored with the 2025 Bobby Douglas Legacy Award, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the wrestling community. He remains dedicated to guiding the next generation of wrestlers through discipline, resilience, and character development.